Carolina Business Capital seeks to help small businesses

Carolina Business Capital, a non-profit regional certified development company specializing in SBA 504 loans for small and mid-sized companies, changed its name from Centralina Development Corp. and appointed a new president, Scott Anderson.

Carolina Business Capital, a non-profit regional certified development company specializing in SBA 504 loans for small and mid-sized companies, changed its name from Centralina Development Corp. and appointed a new president, Scott Anderson.

Scott Anderson is trying to raise the profile of Carolina Business Capital among small-business owners looking for affordable loans.

He's the new president of the Charlotte-based regional certified development company serving North Carolina. The nonprofit specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loans for small and mid-sized companies. Owners can use the loans to buy land, buildings or equipment.

Under the lending program, a bank lends 50 percent, CBC lends 40 percent through a 20-year fixed loan, and the business owner contributes 10 percent.

"It's financing they couldn't otherwise get," Anderson said in a recent phone interview. "We're anxious to help any business."

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"Our mission is as broad as it can be…We do a lot of franchise food restaurants, hotels, car washes."

Clients listed on the website include 131 Main in Blakeney, Providence Preparatory School, Davidson Village Inn and Valeria Spa and Salon.

Anderson has been a banker throughout North Carolina for 35 years, most recently at First Trust Bank, where he was chief operating officer. Anderson says his industry contacts will help him connect with business owners who are potentially eligible for loan. Although customers come to them from the banks, owners can also complete an SBA loan application on its website, cbc504.com.

CBC recently changed its name from Centralina Development Corp., which was established by the SBA in 1982. Since its founding, Anderson said, the nonprofit has loaned $200 million, creating more than 10,000 jobs.

As for the lending climate for small businesses right now, Anderson says owners should be optimistic.

"Particularly for Charlotte, the economy here is good, it's strengthening," he said.

"There is reasonable good demand for small business loans. There's a heavy demand for banks to lend money."